Gas-pressure regulator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L J mi., 0 B A G QM m, d 0 M 0 m GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

S. GABOT, J r.

GAS EEESSUEE EEGULATOE.

Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

WITWES/SES iUNiTEn STATES PATENT Ottica..

SAMUEL CABOT, JB., OF BOSTO, MASSACHUSETTS.

GAS-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,717, dated April l"-, 1885.

Application filed January 7,1885. (No model.)

To LZZ whom t i12/ay concern:

Be it known that i, SAMUEL GABor, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-PressureRegulators,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is related to a class of machines which are used under a great variety of conditions for controlling and modifying the pressure of air and gases, and its special f .extent which the particular construction shown admits of, for the parallel link j in it` function is to accomplish for gases moving through tubes the continuous and uniform reduction of very high pressures to such as are but slightly above that of the atmosphere by means which are simple and inexpensive.

In the drawings forming part of this specicaton, Figure lshows in plan the apparat-us employed. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same on line .t m, showing parts ot the apparatus iu elevation. Fig. 3 is auelevation from the same point of view as Fig. 2, but the passage of gas through the apparatus is interrupted. Fig. 4: shows part of the delivery system from such a pressure-regulator, with a modified position for the safety-valve.

This invention consists of an inverted ves,

sel, a, which lfloats in mercury (represented by the horizontal shading at b) contained in the annular chamber which forms partofthe bed-plate c. In use this bed-plate rests upon some convenient and firm support. The gas under high pressure enters the apparatus from a suit-able service-pipe at d, passes through the fixed tube e, and (when open) through the stop-cock f, then through e, from which it inallyflows, relieved of pressure, to a suitable system of tubing which connects at g, (see Fig. 4.,) and conveys it to the places where it may be required for lighting, heating, the generation of power, and for other purposes. It will be seen that the tube e also connects with the inclosed chamber S within the inverted vessel a by means of the small closed channel h, (shown in dotted lines, and bored or otherwise formed in the bed-plate c.) .The reduction oi' pressure in the tube e', and all its subsequent connections, is effected by the cock f. In the position shown in Fig. 2 this cock is fully open, in which case a pressure will be instantly established within the inverted vessel a, which will rise in consequence until its weight balances the pressure which lifts it. movement of the vessel a tends to close the coclrf through the intervention of the link i, which carries with it the plug of saidcock. The accession of force lifting the vessel a will diminish accordingly and cease altogether whenever the passage of gas is completely cut ,off atf.

In Fig. 3 the vessel a is raised to the fullest is in contact with the adjustable stop k. In

.this position the cock f is completely closed.

Lower positions of u. let some gas pass at its high initial pressure into the tube e', and the plug of the cockf will stay at rest only so long as that pressure and the abstraction of gas for use from any part of the system of distribution remain constant. Whenever either of these factors are changed7 a corresponding change will take place in the position of a, and, as a consequence, in the size of the open passage through the cock f. The result will be au automatic adjustment and restoration of a constant pressure in the gas filling the distributing system. The amount of that pressure will depend, essentially, upon the weight of the vessel a in relation to the area ot' its horizontal cross-section, and, as the weighting ofv a is under easy control, any desired pressure may be maintained in the pipes couveying the gas from the regulator tothe several places where it is consumed.

Devices such as that described are theoreticaliy correct in action if the assumption be made that all. the work on the apparatus is perfectly executed, and the latter sufficiently large to furnish the power required to overcome the friction of the moving parts.

In practice, I have found certain difficulties to present themselves when the original elastic force of the gas is very greatsay, six, eight, or ten atmospheres, pressures not unfrequently met with in gas from natural wells. When such have to be reduced to those that are suitable for dwelling-house illumination or heat- ICO `commensurate power.

,the loating vessel a.

ing, the difference is so great that it is impossible at moderate cost to construct a cock or valve for the position occupied by f which will remain perfectly tight after it is closed. The small quantities of gas which then pass an ordinary cock or valve continue to lift the vessel a until the stop k is reached; or, if there be no stop, until the mercurial column balances the pressure within. In either case, as the leakage of gas goes on, the vessel a ceases to rise, but the gas blows through the mercury, disintegrating it and throwing it about in small quantities in a wasteful way, injurious to the surroundings and destructive of the apparatus itself', which should work well and reliably at all times Without care or attention.

Y If an effort be made to produce a perfect cock or Valve to ll the place atf, it will be found that frictional resistance, due to close and tight-itting surfaces, will have to be overcome, and, in consequence, .the size of the floating vessel a must be increased to gain This adds largely to the cost of* every part, and especially that of ,the mercury, whereas when au ordinary cock or valve can be used to perform the functions off the cost of the whole apparatus is small. In my inventionI attach to the inverted receiver a a small safety-valve, l, opening outward and held in position by a spring or weight, or both,- as in Figs. 2 and 3, in which .the compression of the springm by a nut upon the valve-stem gives the necessary adjustability. This valve is made to blow off at a p ressurein excess of that required for vthe automatic complete closing of the cock f, but

less than that which the gas must have to blow through the mercury. i

, By virtue of this device the imperfections of the cock or valve atf give rise only to vsmall leakages from the valve Z, which in mostcases is productive of no injury or inconven- .ience,.aud thus my invention secures the automatic regulation of gas or other aeriform iiuids at small cost and by means of apparatus occupying but little spaceV and requiring no attention.

It is plain that the safety-valve which I use in combination With the regulating apparatus (Without appreciably affecting the result) may be applied to any part of the delivery system which is in direct and free communication with When, therefore, thelocality in which a gas-regulator has to be placed makes it undesirable that a leakage of gas should issue from it, I remove the safety-valve to some convenient part'of the tubing used for deli-very, as shown in Fig. 4, where the slight escape of gas is not offensive, or where it can be easily removed by establishing a suitable draft. In this case l' represents the valve adjustably loaded by means of a lever and weight and directly connected with the interior of the floating vessel by the tubes n.

I am aware that the automatic regulation of gas-pressures has been more or less perfectly accomplished by the rise and fall of inverted iioating vessels, such as that described herein, by elastic diaphragms, andby expansible bellows-receptacles and similar devices exposed to the force of the gas,which 'fills the distributing system, and I do not claim any such contrivances, broadly. v

I am also aware that other fluids can be used as well as mercury, and I d0 not, therefore, lay claim to any particular construction of that part of the apparatus, or of the safety-valve, l

which in my invention disposes of the gas which leaks into the regulator after its abstraction by the distributing system has ceased.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A gas-regulatorv provided with a safetyvalve communicating with the reduced pressure-chamber, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a gas-regulator, the combination' of the cock f, the inverted oating vessel a, and the safety-valve Z, as and for the purpose described.

3. In a gas-regulator provided with a mercury-basin and a iioating vessel, a safety-valve l or equivalent device communicating with the low-pressure chamber therein, whereby leakages of gas into the latter may'escape to the open air instead of blowing throughfsaid mercury, substantially as and for the purpose described. 'l

4. In a gas-regulator, the combination, with a low-pressure chamber, of a safety-valve ar- IOO ranged upon the distribution service -pipe r which communicates with said chamber, substantially as and for the purpose described. 5. As anew article of manufacture, a floating vessel for a gas-regulator provided with a ICS safety-valve opening outward, substantiallyV as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

sAMuEL -oaeonfiI Witnesses: Y v A ARCHIBALD M. HowE, E. E. ORooK. 

